Rake with quick handle connection

ABSTRACT

A reliable quick connection mechanism is provided for attaching a pole-like handle to a rake or other tool head. The mechanism comprises a socket that is part of the rake or other tool head and a detent attached to the pole-like handle for interlocking engagement with teeth that form part of the socket.

This invention relates to tools with sockets to receive handles, and more particularly to an improved Rake construction with a quick handle connection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tools such as rakes and shovels commonly have a socket for receiving a pole that serves as a handle. The conventional mode of securing a wood pole in the socket is by means of one or more fasteners, e.g., metal screws or pins. That mode of connection is cheap, and strong. Commonly, that form of connection is permanent and, therefore, the handle is attached by the manufacturer. However, for reasons of convenience and to reduce costs, some manufacturers prefer to ship the tools without first attaching the handle, with the task of attaching the handle to the rake or shovel head being left to the distributor, ultimate seller (wholesaler or retailer), or end user. The task of attaching handles can be time consuming and costly, particularly if the person attaching the handle is required to use a special tool to secure the handle with fasteners. Also, the handle may not be attached properly, leading to complaints from the customers. There have been prior efforts to provide means for quickly and simply connecting a pole-type handle to a rake or shovel head, but the quick-connection designs been relatively costly to implement.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive and reliable quick connection mechanism for attaching a pole-like handle to a tool head.

A second object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pole-receiving socket for a rake.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rake having an improved pole-receiving socket construction that embodies part of a quick-connection mechanism for a pole-type handle and also serves as a secure mount for a plurality of tine members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a socket for the purpose described that is made of relatively cheap, easy-to make sheet metal parts.

These and other objects are achieved by providing a tool head having a socket made of sheet metal parts, with one part comprising a plurality of teeth that project into the interior space of the socket and are arranged so as to an interlock with a detent attached to the peripheral surface off a pole that functions as a tool handle for the tool. The teeth are arranged so as to allow the detent to pass them when the pole is inserted into the socket, but to interfere with and block the detent when an effort is made to pull the pole out of the socket. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tool head is a multi-tine rake and the socket serves as a secure anchor or mount for the tines. Other features and advantages of the invention are described or rendered obvious by the following detailed specification of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top view of a rake and handle embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view in elevation.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the socket, including fragments of the dual tine members.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the front end of a pole that serves as a handle, and the detent member that locks the pole to the socket.

FIG. 5 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line the 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary bottom view of the rake head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, 5 and 8, the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention is a rake in the form of a rake head that comprises a plurality of dual tine members 2 that are attached to a socket 4 for a pole handle 60 (FIG. 4) and are supported by a cross brace 6 and a U-shaped spring member 8. The dual tine members are made from flat metal stock and are formed so as to have a generally you shaped configuration comprising a center section 10 and two resilient tine sections 12A and 12B that diverge from one another with increasing distance from the center section 10. The dual tine members vary in overall length and are arranged in groups. The front ends of tine sections 12A and 12B are bent to form rake fingers 16. The front ends of spring member 8 are attached to cross-brace 6 and its U-shaped rear section 17 (FIG. 3) is secured to socket 4. To the extent just described, this general form of rake construction is conventional and well known.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the socket is made up of four parts made of sheet metal (e.g., steel or aluminum) of appropriate thickness and identified by the numerals 18, 20, 22 and 24. Socket part 18 is U-shaped in cross-section, having opposite relatively flat side wall sections 21 and a circularly curved center wall section 23 that generally follows the curvature of the surface of the pole that is intended to serve as the rake handle. The longitudinal edges of sidewall sections 21 of socket part 18 are notched as shown at 25A and 25B. In addition, a portion of the curved wall section 23 is deformed to define a raised section 26 at one end of part 18. That raised section 26 has been punched out to form a series of inwardly facing teeth 30 (FIGS. 2, 6, 8 and 9). Curved wall section 23 also has a hole 32 (FIG. 6), and sidewall sections 21 have slots 31 (FIG. 3).

Still referring to FIG. 3, socket part 20 comprises a flat plate section 34 and two opposite side walls 36A and 36B that extend at a right angle to plate section 34. Socket part 20 also is formed with two sets of tabs 38 that are punched out of its sidewalls and project at substantially a right angle to plate section 34. Tabs 38 extend in two rows, one along each of the opposite side edges of plate section 34. Each row consists of four tabs 38. In addition four L-shaped locking tabs 40 are punched out of plate section 34. Tabs 40 are in alignment along the longitudinal center line of part 20. Plate section 34 also has a hole 42.

Socket part 22 consists of a flat plate body section 44, two sidewalls 46A and 46B, and an end wall 48. The sidewalls 46A and 46B are notched as indicated at 50A, 50B and 50C. Plate section 44 has a hole 52. Socket part 24 is a rivet that is used to secure parts, 18, 20 and 22 to one another in captivating relation with the center sections of the dual tine members and the rear section of spring member 8 as hereinafter described.

Referring again to FIG. 3, as noted above, the dual tine members are arranged groups in accordance with prior practice. The total number of dual tine members, the number of groups into which they are arranged, the number of dual tine members in each group, and the lengths, angles of divergence and shape of tines 12A and 12B may be varied and is not critical to the present invention. In each group, the center sections 10 of the tine members are aligned with one another. The center sections 10A of the innermost group of tine members extend between and are captivated between the first (forward-most) pair of side tabs 38, and in the first (forward-most) locking tab 40A. The center sections 10B of the next group of tine members extend between and are captured between the next-in-line side tabs 38 and the next-in-line locking tab 40B. Similarly, the center sections 10C and 10D of the third and fourth groups of dual tine members extend between and are captivated by successive pairs of side tabs 38 and successive locking tabs 40C and 40D. The rear section 17 of spring 8 is captured between socket part 24 and the underlying portions of some of the dual tine members 2 (FIG. 6).

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 8, socket part 20 sits on the longitudinal edges 22A, 22B of part 18, with its sidewalls 36A, 36B extending alongside of and engaging the outer surfaces of sidewall sections 21 of socket part 18 and the rear section of its plate section 34 extending into slots 31 of socket part 18. Socket part 22 overlies part 20 and the center sections 10 of dual tine members 2 and the rear section 17 of spring member 8, with its sidewalls 46A and 46B overlapping sidewalls 36A and 36B respectively of part 20. The rivet 24 extends through holes 32, 42 and 52 in parts 18, 20 and 22 respectively. The flanged 56 head of the rivet overlaps and engages plate section 44 of part 22; the opposite end of the rivet is swaged over the outer surface of part 18 as shown at 57, thereby securing together the socket parts 18, 21 and 22 in capturing relation with the center section 10 of all the dual tine members and the rear section 17 of spring member 8. Alternatively the rivet could be replaced by some other form of pin-like fastener, e.g., a bolt and nut.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a handle for the rake is provided in the form of an elongate pole 60 of suitable length, e.g., 60-72 inches. For convenience, only the front end portion of pole 60 is illustrated. The pole has a circular outer surface 62. Preferably but not necessarily, the pole is formed with a front end section 63 that is tapered to a smaller diameter than the remainder of the pole. The front end section of the pole has a through hole 64. Preferably hole 64 is countersunk, as shown at 66. Associated with the pole is a detent 70 which comprises a base portion 72 and an angular tongue section 74. Base portion 72 preferably is contoured to mate with the curved outer surface 62 of the pole and has a threaded hole 75. Preferably detent base portion 72 is deformed around hole 75 as shown at 76 so as to seat snugly in countersink 66. A screw fastener 80 that is inserted through hole 64 and screws into hole 75 functions to secure detent 70 to pole 60. The detent is oriented so that its tongue section 74 extends away from the front end surface 68 of the pole.

With the foregoing construction, attachment of pole 60 to the rake head is a simple matter of inserting the front end of the pole into socket 4 with detent 70 aligned with the teeth 30 of socket part 18. As the pole is inserted the detent will pass by one or more of the teeth 30 until the front end surface 68 of the pole engages and is stopped by rivet 24. Preferably holes 32, 42 and 52 are located along the center lines of the surfaces in which they are formed, so that rivet 24 intersects the center axis of the socket. The detent 70 is located on pole 60 so that, its tongue section 74 will be engaged with one of the teeth 30 when the pole engages or is in near engagement with rivet 24, with the result that the pole will be locked to the socket by the detent/tooth interaction. Thereafter, the pole cannot be pulled out of the socket without destroying the detent and/or one or more of the teeth 30. Thus the invention provides a quick and strong connection between the pole and rake head.

Of the course the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein illustrated and described. Also dual tine members 2 and some or all of the parts of the socket could be made of a strong plastic material, e.g., a fiber-reinforced plastic. The number and shape of tabs 38 and 40 also may be modified without altering their function. The mode of making a quick and secure connection can be incorporated into other sockets designed for rakes, shovels and other tools that require an elongate pole-like handle. Also the handle could be made of a material other than wood, e.g. aluminum or a fiber-reinforced plastic. Still other modifications and advantages of the invention will be obvious to persons skilled in the art. 

1. A quick connect apparatus for a tool comprising a tool head with a socket at one end thereof and a handle in the form of an elongate pole for insertion into said socket, said quick connect apparatus comprising: a detent attached to the peripheral surface of said pole adjacent the forward end of said pole, said detent having a tongue section that projects from said peripheral surface of said pole, said socket comprising a plurality of teeth projecting into its interior, said teeth being shaped to allow said detent tongue section to pass by said teeth toward said tool head when said pole is inserted into said socket and to allow said detent tongue section to engage one of said teeth so as to prevent said pole from pulling out of said socket.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said socket includes a stop member in its interior for limiting the extent to which said pole can be inserted into said socket.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said socket comprises a first part that has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and first and second parallel and mutually-spaced longitudinal edges, and at least one additional part engaged with and extending between said first and second longitudinal edges of said first part, said first and second parts coacting to define the interior space of said socket with said interior space being sized to accommodate said forward end of said pole.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said socket includes a stop member in its interior space for limiting the extent to which said pole can be inserted into said socket.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said stop member is a pin that is secured to and extends between said first and second parts of said socket.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said tool head is a rake head and comprises a plurality of tine members attached to said socket between said first and second parts.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said tine members are made of flat strips of metal that are bent intermediate their ends so that each tine member comprises a center section and elongate first and second tine sections that are attached to and disposed in converging relation with said center section, and further wherein said socket includes a third part overlying said second part, with said center section of each tine member being captivated between said second and third parts of said socket.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pole is made of wood, and further wherein said detent is a metal part having a base section that is secured to said pole, with said detent tongue section being integral with said base section and extending away from said base section and said forward end of said pole in pole in position to engage one of said teeth when said pole is inserted into said socket.
 9. Apparatus comprising a tool and a handle for said tool; said handle comprising an elongate pole having first and second opposite ends and a detent attached to said pole adjacent said first end, said detent comprising a base section attached to said handle and a tongue section attached to said base section and extending outwardly from said pole at an angle, said tongue section also extending away from said first end of said pole. said tool having a socket for receiving said first end of said pole, said socket having a first surface having a cross-sectional shape conforming generally to the exterior surface of said pole, said first surface including at least one tooth projecting inwardly of said socket and shaped to allow said tongue to pass by said at least one tooth when said first end of said pole is inserted into said socket and to thereafter act as a stop for said tongue to prevent removal of said pole from said socket.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first surface of said socket includes a section that is raised relative to the remainder of said first surface and provides said socket with an expanded portion to accommodate said detent, and further wherein said at least one tooth comprises an inward deformation of said raised section.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said tool is a rake characterized by a plurality of dual tine members, with each dual tine member comprising a center section and a pair of mutually diverging tines attached to said center section, and further wherein said center section of each duel tine member is secured to said socket.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said socket comprises a first part that has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and is characterized by said first surface and first and second parallel longitudinally-extending edges terminating said first surface, a second part engaged with and extending between said first and second longitudinally-extending edges, said second part having projection means for spacing said center sections of said dual tine members from one another and locking them against movement lengthwise of said socket, and a third part that overlies said second part and is locked to first and second parts, said third part coacting with said projection means of said second part to lock said center sections of said dual tine members to said socket.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said third part is locked to said first and second parts by a pin that extends across the interior space of said socket and acts as a stop to limit the extent that said first end of said pole can be inserted into said socket.
 14. A rake head comprising a socket for a handle in the form of an elongate pole and a plurality of dual tine members attached to said socket; said socket comprising a first part that has a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and is characterized by a first surface and first and second parallel longitudinally-extending edges terminating said first surface, said first surface having a cross-sectional shape conforming generally to the exterior surface of said pole and including at least one tooth projecting inwardly of said socket, a second part engaged with and extending between said first and second longitudinally-extending edges, said second part having a second surface characterized by a plurality of projections extending away from said first surface, and a third part that overlies said second part and is locked to first and second parts; and said dual tine members each comprising a center section and a pair of mutually diverging tine sections attached to said center section, said center section of each duel tine member being disposed between and captivated by said second and third parts with said projections locking said center sections against movement lengthwise of said socket.
 15. A rake head according to claim 14 in combination with a handle in the form of a pole; said pole having a peripheral surface and a detent attached to and projecting from said peripheral surface adjacent one end of said pole, said detent having a tongue section that extends angularly away from said peripheral surface; said first surface of said first part of said socket comprising at least one tooth projecting into the interior of said socket, said at least one tooth being shaped to allow said tongue section to pass by said at least one tooth when said pole is inserted into said socket and to allow said tongue section to engage said at least one tooth so as to prevent said handle from pulling out of said socket.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said first surface of said first part has more than one tooth, with each tooth being aligned with one and spaced from one another so that said tongue section may engage any one of said teeth, and further wherein said socket includes a stop member that limits the extent to which said pole can penetrate said socket.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said stop member is a pin that extends between and locks together said first, second and third parts of said socket.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said dual tine members are made of flat strips of metal, and further wherein said center sections of said dual tine members are arranged in groups with the center sections of the tine members in each group overlying one another and being locked against movement lengthwise of said socket by common ones of said projections.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said groups of center sections are spaced lengthwise of said socket by said projections. 